Publicity

Pip Miller PR

Telephone: 0419 681543

Email: pip@pipmillerpr.com.au

MEDIA INFORMATION                                  19 January 2010

ENJOY A FAMILY ESCAPE AT RYDGES SABAYA RESORT

Spend some quality time with your family on a post-Christmas break at Rydges Sabaya Resort in tropical Port Douglas.

The family package includes three nights accommodation in a Garden King one bedroom apartment, return airfares to Cairns and return transfers to Port Douglas.

Prices from Townsville start at $530 per person, Brisbane from $650pp, Sydney from $650pp, Melbourne from $750pp and Adelaide from $830pp.

Family holiday packages are on sale until February 28 and are valid for travel from February to June 30, 2010.

Rydges Sabaya Resort features a lagoon style pool, games room, a day spa and signature restaurant Sakinah House is open for dinner seven days a week. 

To book go to www.virginblue.com.au/holidays or call 131516 in Australia or 131516 in New Zealand.

ENDS

For media inquiries contact:

Matt Graham, Director of Sales
Rydges Sabaya Resort, Port Douglas
DD: +61 7 4099 8950 M: 0400 486 062

E: matt_graham@rydges.com

www.rydges.com/portdouglas

NEW BAR SET TO MAKE A SPLASH ON CAIRNS BAR SCAPE IN 2010

Date:                Friday, 18 December 2009

Time:                11am

Place:              Level 3, Rydges Plaza Cairns – Corner Grafton and Spence Streets

Event:               Sneak preview for Cairns news, features and entertainment media of

                        AHL’s brand new dining and bar concept that will be officially opened on

                        February 4, 2010.

Spokes-

Person:             Rydges Hotels and Resorts director of food and beverage operations, Vince

                        Lombino will unveil LILO…an exciting and chic newcomer to Cairns bar scape.

Vince will also present some of more unusual dishes that have made it onto the menu that features such names as sliders, big ass burgers and more.

Vince is an interesting guy in his own right…with an international career spanning a three year appointment heading up all parties, events and official functions for the US Embassy in Switzerland. In addition he lived with the Ambassador and handled both public and private events at the mansion. Vince was also chosen to take care of the first family on a number of occasions and enjoyed a one-on-one lunch with Bill Clinton. Prior to that Vince was vice president of a very high profile hotel group in the US as well as operating his own restaurant company in Miami.

Vision/Image: Lagoon lifesaver, Shane M stands guard on LILO’s pool deck while Lulu‘s bikini babe relaxes on her lilo…sipping one of the bar’s special cocktail blends….

Inquiries:         PIP MILLER PR Mob: 0419 681543

More info:

In February 2010 Rydges Plaza Cairns will introduce LILO…A Wet Bar…the third in a series of brand new restaurant and bar precincts being rolled out Australia wide by parent company, Amalgamated Holdings Limited (AHL). 

AHL is Australia’s leading hospitality, leisure and entertainment company; largest cinema operator with brands Birch Carroll & Coyle Greater Union and Event Cinemas in Australia and Cinestar in Germany and Middle East.

Developed by AHL, in conjunction with its Rydges Hotels and Resorts brand, LILO will be the third restaurant and bar concepts to be unveiled in Australia in as many months.  Others include Locanda Italian style steakhouse restaurants in Melbourne and Canberra and Mundo tapas bars in Sydney.

Offering a little bit of summer all year round, LILO‘s purpose built bar flows seamlessly to the open-air terrace replete with private cabanas and swimming pool.

This hip new playground overlooking the buzz of Grafton Street, offers patrons the luxury of several indoor and outdoor lounging domains and dining areas that draw inspiration from  Miami while staying true to Cairns and its laidback vibe.

This newcomer to Cairns‘ bar scene will have its own identity, like no other…a refreshingly simple blend of great food, cool cocktails and live music on any one day or night of the week.

Ends

 Publicity

Pip Miller PR

Telephone: 0419 681543

Email: pip@pipmillerpr.com.au

MEDIA INFORMATION                                                14 December 09

ROOMS ONLY $99 AT RYDGES GLADSTONE

Stay in the heart of the city at Rydges Gladstone from as little as $99 during the peak holiday season of January.

General Manager David Osborne said Rydges was celebrating its recent purchase of the Rydges Gladstone property with special deals perfect for the self-drive visitor.

“Rydges Gladstone is located in the central business district close to major retailers and service providers and is Gladstone’s largest hotel complex, making it the ideal base for business or leisure travellers,” he said.

“Its proximity to Gladstone Harbour means guests have easy access to Heron Island and the Great Barrier Reef.”

The special rate of $99 per night is for the City View rooms, with the Harbour View rooms and Self-Contained Studios starting at $130 per night during January.

Rydges recently revitalised the property’s 40 harbour view rooms to include a flat screen television and the popular Rydges dream beds with triple sheeting.

Quality accommodation facilities including a pool, laundry service, conference facilities and room service combine with the can-do Rydges service to ensure a quality stay.

The CBD Restaurant & Bar has an all-day dining menu.

ENDS

For media inquiries contact:

Dawn Gleeson

Director of Sales

Rydges Southbank Townsville and Rydges Gladstone

Ph: 0400 265 933

E: dawn_gleeson@rydges.com

W: www.rydges.com

Publicity

Pip Miller PR

Telephone: 0419 681543

Email: pip@pipmillerpr.com.au

MEDIA INFORMATION                                   December 2009

NEW CHEF FOR RYDGES SABAYA RESORT

Rydges Sabaya Resort’s newly appointed Executive Chef has returned to Port Douglas after years of designing menus at some of the world’s most exclusive tropical resorts.

Rydges Area General Manager North Queensland Simon White said he was pleased to welcome Anthony Kramer back to Tropical North Queensland where he had worked as an executive chef at various prestigious properties.

Mr Kramer was the Executive Chef at Daintree Eco-Lodge and Spa Resort in 2003 and from 1999 to 2003 was Executive Chef for P&O Australian Resorts, the then owners of Dunk, Lizard, Bedarra, Brampton and Heron island resorts.

“It was in his role at P&O Australian Resorts where he oversaw kitchens ranging from five to 50 chefs and stewards that he was named 2002 Mentor of the Year for North Queensland,” Mr White said.

“Since then he has worked as the Executive Chef of several leading resorts, mostly in tropical locations including the Maldives and Fiji where he also served as General Manager for two years.”

Mr Kramer said he had enjoyed an enviable lifestyle working at some of the world’s top resorts in exotic locations.

“But it was a bit like living out of a suitcase so I was keen to come home to Australia and particularly wanted to work in Port Douglas which has an exotic, tropical atmosphere,” he said.

The Sydney-trained chef has a sound reputation for training staff to ensure both the cuisine and service at his award-winning restaurants will exceed guests’ expectations.

Expect to see menu changes taking place before the New Year at Rydges Sabaya Resort where Mr Kramer will ensure fresh local produce takes centre stage.

His menus in the Maldives, Fiji and Kakadu were renown for taking the local cuisine and giving it a five-star twist, a technique he aims to continue in Port Douglas.

At the moment he is busy planning Christmas Day menus which will focus around buffets and an exotic barbecue featuring local seafood and the best Australian beef.

With its open Balinese feel, Rydges Sabaya Resort is the perfect setting for the fresh locally-inspired menus Mr Kramer will introduce.

The resort’s signature restaurant Sakinah House is open for breakfast and dinner in a contemporary setting with modern Australian-Asian fusion cuisine. The Lotus Lounge Bar overlooks the lagoon-style swimming pool and the swim-up Biru Bar, at the edge of the pool, offers lunch each day as well as a wide variety of beers and cocktails.

ENDS

For media inquiries contact:

Simon White

Area General Manager North Queensland

Rydges Sabaya Resort Port Douglas

DD:   61 7 4099 8910

E: simon_white@rydges.com

www.rydges.com/portdouglas

Publicity

Pip Miller PR

Telephone: 0419 681543

Email: pip@pipmillerpr.com.au

Internet: www.rydges.com/esplanadecairns                                

MEDIA INFORMATION                                                                3 December 2009

RYDGES ESPLANADE RESORT APPOINTS INTERNATIONAL CHEF

Celebrity chefs Rick Stein and Gordon Ramsay have sampled his menus and now Cairns can experience the contemporary multi-cuisine approach of Ajay Zalte, who has been appointed Executive Chef of Rydges Esplanade Resort.

Using skills gained working alongside Michelin star chefs and in five star restaurants around the world, Mr Zalte is looking forward to setting an exciting new culinary direction for Rydges’ inner city waterfront property.

The award-winning chef is passionate about menu engineering and draws on many influences including Mediterranean, New Zealand, Australian, French, Asian, Indian, Mexican and Middle Eastern cuisine while utilising the best of today’s local market produce.

Mr Zalte’s extensive resume includes his role as pre-opening Executive Chef for Accor’s Flagship property in Mumbai, the Novotel Juhu Beach Mumbai, winning the Best Restaurant at the Fiji Tourism Awarded for SALT at the Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa and being a senior judge in New Zealand’s and Fiji’s national and Regional Culinary Fare competitions.

In Dubai Mr Zalte was part of the team at Jumeirah hotel Burj Al Arab which catered for functions of up to 10,000 people and pulled out all stops to tempt the tastebuds of celebrities and world leaders including the late Michael Jackson, the Crown Prince of Dubai, former US President George Bush and former British Prime Minister John Major.

The General Manager of Rydges Esplanade Resort, Kellie Eustace said she was delighted to appoint such an experienced and passionate chef.

“Ajay is a highly experienced international chef who is renowned for his leadership qualities as well as his skill as a chef. He also excels at building relationships with suppliers to ensure he can get the best produce available throughout the year.”

Mr Zalte said the diverse produce, seafood and specialty food products available in Tropical North Queensland would be the inspiration for future menus at Rydges Esplanade Resort.

“Fresh local produce will be an essential ingredient in the Resort’s dishes which will reflect the high standards an international destination such as Cairns should have in its cuisine,” he said.

“Modern chefs including Thomas Keller of the French Laundry and Australia’s leading chefs Tetsuya Wakuda and Neil Perry influence my style, as do robust and adventurous chefs like Anthony Bourdain.

“I believe in blazing a trail for others to follow by creating innovative modern cuisine to rival that found in any of the world’s leading hotels, while meeting the challenge of keeping a menu affordable.

“I look forward to welcoming locals as regular diners and ensuring our visitors leave with an appreciation of the diverse array of food available in the tropics.”

ends

For further information:

Ms Kellie Eustace, General Manager Rydges Esplanade Resort Tel:  07 4044 9000.

Publicity

Pip Miller PR

Telephone: 0419 681543

Email: pip@pipmillerpr.com.au

MEDIA INFORMATION                          Friday 30 October 2009

RYDGES GIVES FAMILIES A BREAK

Enjoy a family escape in Tropical North Queensland with package deals at Rydges Hotels and Resorts that won’t break the budget.

The accommodation discounts come hot on the heels of Jetstar slashing its North Queensland fares by up to 50 per cent from all capital cities with prices starting at $89 one way from Brisbane to Cairns.

Stay in the heart of Cairns city from only $153 per room per night with the
Family Package available at Rydges Esplanade Resort, Rydges Tradewinds Cairns and Rydges Plaza Cairns.

The Family Package includes three nights accommodation, kids stay and eat free (0-12yrs using existing bedding, one child eats free per full paying adult, max two children), a welcome drink on arrival per person in the hotel bar/lounge and a Rydges Holiday Saving Voucher booklet with value adds and discounts worth up to $450.

At Port Douglas, pay for four nights at Rydges Sabaya Resort and get an extra night free. Prices start at $229 for a one bedroom apartment per night with kids staying and eating free (0-12yrs using existing bedding, one child eats free per full paying adult, max two children), a welcome drink on arrival per person in the hotel bar/lounge and a Rydges Holiday Saving Voucher booklet with value adds and discounts worth up to $450.

To book contact your travel agent, call the Rydges hotel of your choice direct or visit www.rydges.com

ENDS

For media inquiries contact:

Debra Irvine, Director of Sales & Marketing, Rydges Esplanade Resort Cairns, Rydges Tradewinds Cairns

Tel: 07 4044 9034  m: 0409 552 548 Email: debra_irvine@rydges.com

Publicity

Pip Miller PR

Telephone: 0419 681543

Email: pip@pipmillerpr.com.au

Internet: www.rydges.com/tradewinds

MEDIA INFORMATION                                                NOVEMBER 2009

MUMS AND DAUGHTERS LEARN MASSAGE

Massage therapists from Spa by the Sea at Rydges Tradewinds Cairns will be teaching mothers and daughters neck and shoulder rub techniques as part of the Active After-School Communities Program.

Five Cairns schools will be participating in Mothers and Daughters Week from 23-27 November where mums will be invited to stay back at school with their children, instead of rushing home.

Funded by the Australian Sports Commission, Mothers and Daughters Week is an after-school activity designed to engage parents with their children while promoting active and healthy lifestyles for both the children and the parents.

Mums will take part in physical activities and games with their daughters, plus receive ideas and tips for healthy snacks and lunches as well as active Christmas presents.

Spa by the Sea manager Liz Morris said she was delighted the Spa could be included in such a fun and informative way for mothers and daughters to interact.

“A qualified masseuse from Spa by the Sea at Rydges Tradewinds Cairns will teach the mothers and daughters a short neck and shoulder rub they can perform on each other,” she said.
“It is a wonderful program designed to encourage mothers to take an active interest in their daughters’ physical health and activity levels.”

About 60 Cairns Mums have signed up for the week with Balaclava Primary School, Mother of Good Counsel, Our Lady Help of Christians, St Gerard-Majella and St Josephs participating.

Ends

For further information and media inquiries:

Matthew Hurley General Manager Rydges Tradewinds

DD:   61 7 4053 0301, Mobile: 0418 200 935

E: matthew_hurley@rydges.com  www.rydges.com/tradewinds

Liz Morris

Tradewinds Spa by the Sea

T: 07 4051 8318 M: 0404809054 E: enquire@spabythesea.com.au

Publicity

Pip Miller PR

Telephone: 0419 681543

Email: pip@pipmillerpr.com.au

Internet: www.rydges.com/tradewinds

MEDIA INFORMATION                                         5 NOVEMBER 2009

JACINTA TAKES HOME SEPTEMBER TO QUALIFY FOR INAUGURAL THERAPIST OF THE YEAR AWARD

Jacinta Hunt from Rydges Tradewinds Spa by the Sea has been named September’s winner of the inaugural Elemis Australian Therapist of the Year.

Jacinta Hunt is pictured at left.

As September’s winning therapist, Jacinta has been rewarded with a certificate and cash prize while automatically qualifying for the national award.

According to Pauline Ciciulla-Russell, national sales manager for Elemis, Jacinta’s winning nomination was based on several factors including client testimonials commending her for superior customer service.

Rydges Tradewinds Spa by the Sea offers an exclusive selection of signature skin, face and body treatments from Australia’s high performance product range, Elemis.

Elemis is one of the world’s leading luxury spa and skincare brands.  The successful combination of natural active ingredients with cutting-edge technology has enabled Elemis to bring to market some of the most influential anti-ageing products and professional spa therapies the beauty industry has ever seen.

Ends

For further information and media inquiries:

Matthew Hurley General Manager Rydges Tradewinds

DD:   61 7 4053 0301, Mobile: 0418 200 935

E: matthew_hurley@rydges.com  www.rydges.com/tradewinds

Liz Morris

Tradewinds Spa by the Sea

T: 07 4051 8318 M: 0404809054 E: enquire@spabythesea.com.au